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19 Unusual Facts about Ukraine

Ukraine is the largest country wholly within the EU, located in Eastern Europe.

It is bordered by Moldova and Romania to the south west, Hungary and Slovakia to the west, Poland to the north west, Belarus to the north and Russia to the north and east. It also has a coastline to the south along both the Black Sea and Sea of Azov.

The coordinates for Ukraine are 49.0000° N, 32.0000°

Ukraine’s terrain is mostly flat plains and plateaus, with mountains to the west and far south.

The total land area of Ukraine is 233,090 square miles (603,700 square kilometres).

This country had a population of 45.5 million in 2013.

The capital is Kiev which covers an area of 323.9 square miles (839 square kilometres) and has a population of 2.8 million (2013).

The average life span here is 68 years.

The Ukrainian residents of southern Crimea enjoy a mediterranean climate, with the rest of the country experiencing a temperate, continental climate.

The official language of Ukraine is, unsurprisingly, Ukrainian. However, Russian, Polish, Romanian and Hungarian are also spoken here.

Kiev is home to Arsenalaya Metro Station, the deepest metro station in the world at an astonishing 105 metres deep! Not suitable for those who suffer from claustrophobia, then!

The McDonald’s fast food restaurant in Kiev is amongst one of the busiest in the world and serves over 2 million customers each year!

Ukraine was once home to the Guinness World Record for the largest wine flute, which could hold an incredible 56.25 litres. Unfortunately this record was broken by Brazil in 2014 with an outstanding 100.5 litres!

Ukrainian Dmitriy Khalazhi has held an amazing 63 Guinness World Records for stunts such as laying on a bed of nails with 700kg plates on top of him which were then smashed with hammers, and being run over by tractors and lorries. Each to their own…

When exchanging your holiday money, ask for Ukrainian Hryvnia, the official currency here.